EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 29: Head coach Jamion Christian of the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers look on during the second half while playing the Michigan State Spartans at the Jack T. Breslin Student Events Center on November 29, 2013 in East Lansing, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 98-65. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 185392817 less

EAST LANSING, MI - NOVEMBER 29: Head coach Jamion Christian of the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers look on during the second half while playing the Michigan State Spartans at the Jack T. Breslin Student Events ... more

Photo: Gregory Shamus, Getty

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Mount St. Mary's coach Jamion Christian gives instructions to his team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan State, Friday, Nov. 29, 2013, in East Lansing, Mich. Michigan State won 98-65. (AP Photo/Al Goldis) ORG XMIT: ELJ107 less

Mount St. Mary's coach Jamion Christian gives instructions to his team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan State, Friday, Nov. 29, 2013, in East Lansing, Mich. Michigan ... more

Photo: Al Goldis, AP

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SOUTH BEND, IN - DECEMBER 09: Head coach Jamion Christian of the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers is seen during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Purcell Pavilion on December 9, 2014 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 521949767 less

SOUTH BEND, IN - DECEMBER 09: Head coach Jamion Christian of the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers is seen during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Purcell Pavilion on December 9, 2014 in South ... more

Photo: Michael Hickey, Getty

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SOUTH BEND, IN - NOVEMBER 13: Head coach Jamion Christian of the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers talks to an official about a call during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Purcell Pavilion on November 13, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775064302 less

SOUTH BEND, IN - NOVEMBER 13: Head coach Jamion Christian of the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers talks to an official about a call during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Purcell Pavilion on ... more

Photo: Michael Hickey, Getty

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Siena hires Jamion Christian as men's basketball coach

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Jamion Christian is the new Siena men’s basketball coach, according to a source close to the situation.

The Saints on Tuesday came to terms with Christian, Mount St. Mary’s head coach for the past six seasons.

Christian has a 101-95 record at Mount St. Mary’s, including a 67-39 record in Northeast Conference play. He guided the Mountaineers to NEC titles and the NCAA Tournament in 2014 and 2017.

Christian replaces Jimmy Patsos, who resigned on April 13 following a college investigation into alleged verbal and physical abuse of team members, in addition to questions about improper handling of player per diem money.

Christian, 36, is getting married on Saturday. He has a 5-year-old son, Jacoy, from a previous marriage.

The hiring of Christian gives Siena someone from a small Catholic school that emphasizes basketball. Mount St. Mary’s, located in Emmitsburg, Md., has an undergraduate enrollment of 1,729, even smaller than Siena’s 3,139.

Siena athletic director John D’Argenio said on April 13 the college was looking for someone who “has had an experience like Siena.” Christian also has Division I head coaching experience, which appeared to be a priority for the Saints.

Christian was signed with Mount St. Mary’s through the 2026-27 season.

Another rumored candidate was Winthrop head coach Pat Kelsey, who has a $275,000 buyout, according to The Herald newspaper of Rock Hill, S.C, which covers Winthrop. Kelsey would say only "I'm not involved" repeatedly when asked about Siena in a phone interview.

Now it’s Christian’s task to try to lead the Saints back to the top of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. They haven’t won a MAAC title since 2010 and this season sunk to an 8-24 record, matching the most losses in program history.

Christian has been to the NCAA Tournament twice as a head coach in that time. In 2014, Mount St. Mary’s lost to the University at Albany 71-64 in the NCAA Tournament’s First Four in Dayton, Ohio. Last year, the Mountaineers beat New Orleans in the First Four for the second NCAA Tournament win in program history before losing to Villanova in the first round.

One AAU coach who has sent recruits to Christian described his coaching demeanor as “super positive,’’ which may have appealed to Siena officials after the Patsos allegations.

Photo: Jamie Sabau, Getty

COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 15: Head Coach Jamion Christian of the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers watches his team play against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the first half on November 15, 2015 at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Mount St. Mary's 76-54. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 588957669

COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 15: Head Coach Jamion Christian of the...

Christian, a former assistant at William & Mary and Virginia Commonwealth, is expected to bring his “Mount Mayhem” system to Loudonville.

He emphasizes defensive pressure with frequent 3-point shooting. The Mountaineers led the NEC this season with 853 3-point attempts and a 37.9 percentage.

He may have to talk some Siena players into staying. Freshman forward Prince Oduro and freshman point guard Roman Penn have both received releases to transfer. Oduro is visiting Mississippi State this week.

"How do you feel great about a situation when you don't have a coach?" David Maravilla, Penn's prep school coach, said this week. "I think he's trying to be fair about it and wait."

Christian will also be playing catch-up in recruiting. The regular signing period for this year’s seniors began on April 11 and the live evaluation period for 2019 prospects and beyond started two weekends ago.

Born and raised in Quinton, Va., Christian played at Mount St. Mary’s, where he served as a three-year captain before graduating in 2003. His first coaching job was as an assistant at Division III Emory & Henry from 2004 to 2006.

He served as Bucknell’s director of basketball operations from 2006 to 2008 before moving on to a three-year stint as a William & Mary assistant. After that, he spent one year on Virginia Commonwealth’s staff under Shaka Smart, another coach who preaches defensive pressure, before getting the Mount St. Mary’s job in 2012.